London interview - be VERY afraid!!!!!

[Captain Oates 911]

Many thanks Lansbury - you were there for me through this horror show and I appreciate it. I think it's because I am a professional administrator by trade that I found this so hard - normally the harder you work at something, it eventually gives and so it's just a question of applying time and effort and money and knowledge.

With this lot you hit barriers that NOTHING can shift and the frustration builds up to a point where you are tearing your hair out for what to do to make things happen - the answer is 'nothing' most times.

Glad to have helped in anyway I could.

In the years I spent in Special Branch I found my postings to Heathrow Airport working alongside the immigration service very enlightening. Having met immigration officers from other parts of the world as well they all have one thing in common. It is their aim in life to prevent people getting into a country they seem quite happy if they manage to achieve that.

My pal Bob transferred to special branch - i think it was so he could get off with the air hostesses at leeds airport....

I have no fears about POE at chicago unless I get a young lady officer - they really scare me - they never smile and are so keen to 'get' somebody. I will watch the sequencing of the booths and if necessary i will invite the people behind me in the line to go in front of me so i get a chap when it's my turn.

When I was 19, I was put in the back of a police van in leeds on my own with a drunken prostitute we had arrested for knifing a client. She started fighting me all the round the walls and roof and floor of that van and it was like being in with a deranged tiger and i will never forget it. My buddies opened the van doors when we got to the cell area and laughed themselves hoarse at the sight of me. I reckon they knew her and did it on purpose

It must have scarred me for life cos I am quite scared of 'the gentle sex'. Three years ago a lady threatened to 'glass me' in the face if I didn't buy her a drink. The year before that a woman punched me in the nose for 'walking away when i am talking to you'

anyway that's my POE plan...

ok back to planning the motorbike and speed boat !

alan

[VisaJourneyLady 33]

Without VJ, a lot of people would have their personal lives and their financial lives and their mental and physical health wrecked by this visa thing and it's comedy of errors. I am not exagerrating...

So right you are. Thank you for sharing your ups and down Alan. I'm just starting, and if I was relying on official info to plan the coming months, I would be totally at sea. Swimming blind in to months of very scant correspondence with the embassy, and that's only DCF. Thanks to VJ I know that even 6 months of waiting is speedy.

I hope you never have to go through it again, and Florida treats you nice.

Best of luck

Poit.

[Captain Oates 911]

Without VJ, a lot of people would have their personal lives and their financial lives and their mental and physical health wrecked by this visa thing and it's comedy of errors. I am not exagerrating...

So right you are. Thank you for sharing your ups and down Alan. I'm just starting, and if I was relying on official info to plan the coming months, I would be totally at sea. Swimming blind in to months of very scant correspondence with the embassy, and that's only DCF. Thanks to VJ I know that even 6 months of waiting is speedy.

I hope you never have to go through it again, and Florida treats you nice.

Best of luck

Poit.

Very best of luck Poit, most people have a reasonably straight run so fingers crossed eh.. I will be around again once I get Carolyn off to work and the gators moved off the lawn...alan

[Amby 490]

holy ####### I would have died. what arses. you should call the ####### info line and try to get some answers and then get them to give you a reference number so you can email the embassy

[Bforbarree 4]

Without VJ, a lot of people would have their personal lives and their financial lives and their mental and physical health wrecked by this visa thing and it's comedy of errors. I am not exagerrating...

AMEN!

It's bad enough when things go smoothly...can't begin imagine the strees you've been thru.

Congratulations and thank you for posting!

Best of luck!